Welcome

I've started this group with purely selfish motives. I needed a home for my growing obsession with Ms. Oates' work and, as a fan, I need to be among my own kind:-)

I don't expect this to be a very active group, but I'm hoping it will be a nice place to come and talk about the Oates' book you're reading at the time, share some news, ask a question, or shop off the book lists (ha ha). Start conversations/threads if you are inspired to. Feel free to make yourself at home.

Whether you are a hardcore or a casual fan, welcome!

Thanks for setting this up, avaland! I am a fan of JCO, and look forward to talking about her work with you and others.

I'm not an obsessed fan of JCO, but I've generally liked those works of hers I've read, and have a couple of her books sitting on my shelf waiting to be read. So I'll be lurking.

Did any of you see the Q&A in today's New York Times. 56 novels! I seriously collected her for a while (I have 34 novels), but she is so prolific! I have met her twice, and I have a lot of signed copies -- especially her first novel.

News flash if you did not see the NYT article:
She is engaged to be married to a psychologist who teaches at Princeton.

Thanks for inviting us.

-Jim

Thanks for setting this up Lois. I am a growing fan of Oates' work. I have appreciated all of the ones that I have read, and have a few on my shelves still waiting to be read. I look forward to keeping up with this thread!

Judy

>4 rmckeown: I think you might win the prize! I've seen your library:-) I picked her up first around 1980 and decided she was not for me (it was a dark novel, if I remember correctly). I had small children during that era and that effected my reading (although I did read all of Kate Wilhelm's psychological thrillers in the 80s, so I don't know why I didn't go for the Oates...). It's only in the last few years that I've really gotten into her work.

Thanks, Lois.

I've just finished my first Oates novel this morning (Middle Age: a Romance), and I think I might be a fan! I'm looking forward to seeing what the rest of you have enjoyed to give me some ideas. I've recently read a couple of her short stories as well, but I have to say that until the last year or so I hadn't even heard of her. Maybe she's not so well-known across this side of the Atlantic?

Rachel

Rach, There are some library sales coming up in the area, I'll keep my eyes open for some copies.

Been off line for a week or so, but come back to find a new playground, thanks Lois, I shall definately be snooping around here from time to time. I'm a big fan of JCO. I read her journals last year and was very inspired by them both about creativity, and about reading some of her works I'd not read, or even heard of in some instances.

I have one signed book (Jim, yes you certainly have the lead on JCO books for sure).

I've read about 40% of the books of hers I own. So far my favourites have been 'Middle Age', 'The Fall' and 'Blond', though there were some I read years ago that I can't remember the titles of now. I think I came on my first JCO in the early '80s, but she isn't particularly widely read here I think (in the UK).

I have only read one Oates novel - Black Girl, White Girl which I did not quite understand.
This group is timely though, as I'm starting my second Oates novel TONIGHT. (See other thread.) I want to like JCO because I think avaland is fabulous!

Hello - I'm glad to see a group for JCO! I fell in love with her writing a few years ago when I read Black Water. I have several others by her in my library, but I've only read a few. I am planning to read Middle Age this year.

Great group idea! The recent comments about JCO over at Club Read had me thinking about her lately. And I just picked up a copy of Uncensored: Views and (Re)views a couple of weeks ago, so this is the perfect reason to pluck it from Mount Tbr...

>12 Fullmoonblue: yes, me too! And I'm hoping to read more this year. I also read somewhere that A Bloodsmoor Romance is a pastiche or related somehow to Little Women. That definitely intrigued me, so I ordered a used copy which arrived yesterday. I don't think I will start it right away as it appears to be a whopper and I'm already reading two 600-page books.

>8 avaland: Oooh, thanks, Lois, that would be great. Who knows how long it might take for another JCO to turn up in a Belgian second-hand shop? (and I'm not not NOT buying new books at the moment, well, not apart from the one I bought today and the others last week...) Sitting at work this afternoon I felt quite sorry to have finished Middle Age this morning -- I was looking forward to coming home to it until I remembered.

Whilst I know that I have quite a lot of Oates to go at regardless, having read one paltry novel, I'd be interested to know if you all have favourites?

Oops, I've just found the 'favourites' thread; Lois, you made a great job of setting this group up!

>15 rachbxl: Thanks. It shows that I've learned something from 2 1/2 years on LT:-)

>10 amandameale: Amanda, Black Girl, White Girl was the JCO novel that I have been most disappointed with. Will see if I wrote a review in my book and will type it up it if I did.

I recently finished The Gravedigger's Daughter and I absolutely loved it. As always, Joyce made me feel emotionally connected with the characters. The great thing about loving Joyce Carol Oates is you never run out of her books to read.

>18 GCPLreader: Welcome! Did you write a review of the novel? If so, feel free to post it here somewhere, perhaps under the novels thread? Or excerpt it with a link to the full review.